The horrors of the Dardanelles

The Post Office at Lowburn, on the Clutha River, four miles from Cromwell. - Otago Witness, 19.5...
The Post Office at Lowburn, on the Clutha River, four miles from Cromwell. - Otago Witness, 19.5.1915.
During the past few weeks the stern fighting at the Dardanelles and the daily appearance of casualty lists containing in many cases the names of our kith and kin have brought home to the people of this country a somewhat belated, but perhaps all the more bitter realisation of the horrors of war, and have stirred this small nation to think and act with a determination and purposefulness never before known in its history.

We can now think more clearly of ''the trenches cold and damp'', and of all the hardships that are being so nobly and so bravely borne by the sons of this young country, who sprang to arms in the hour of the Empire's need, and who, though lacking the training and discipline of the regular British regiments, were sent to fight an enemy whose armies are reckoned among the bravest in Europe.

It was the visions called up by these things and the urgent need that something should be done immediately for our own men that prompted the St John Ambulance Association, which stands primarily and essentially for humanitarianism, to attempt something that would alleviate the lot of those who have suffered for others and cheer those who have been wounded.

A systematic and carefully-organised effort was made, and by means of a public street collection, which was carried out earnestly and enthusiastically by willing workers, everyone was enabled to support, according to their means, a cause that touched their hearts and homes very nearly indeed.

The result was astonishing, passing all expectations, and the amount realised by Saturday's collection was no less a sum than £1792 15s 10d, which, added to £24 11s 6d previously received, makes a total to date of £1817 7s 4d.

To this sum there remain still to be added the net proceeds of the concert by the Overseas Club this evening, and of a whole-day entertainment at the Grand Picture Theatre on Monday next; while the fund will be further augmented by contributions from Palmerston, from the employees at the Roslyn Mills, and from Messrs Speight and Co., and by other amounts for Dardanelles souvenir medals.

These sources should produce some 40, and will bring the total up to an amount of which the St John Ambulance Association should be justly proud.

 The women of Port Chalmers and the surrounding districts are working very hard in the interests of the soldiers, and even the school girls are busily acquiring the art of knitting in a spirit of helpfulness.

The members of the Women's Patriotic Association are greatly delighted at the interest that is being displayed in their work by the people of Port.

At the weekly work gathering on Friday the workroom was crowded both in the afternoon and evening.

The committee reports that almost every day women are offering to help in whatever is the most needed branch of the work at the time.

The school children, with the help of their teachers, have taken up the knitting enthusiastically.

The committee is fortunate in having a number of experienced knitters, who are only too willing to help beginners.

The ladies of the Congregational Church gave a monthly day of sewing for the Belgians and for our own boys, this being in addition to what they do weekly at the hall.

Miss B. Grant is starting a Young Women's Club in connection with the same church, which will give the committee all the help it can.

The committee is very grateful for such assistance. - ODT, 24.5.1915.

 


 

COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ


 

 

Add a Comment